A home can be a place of comfort, routine and independence – but everyday chores can become difficult when disability affects mobility, energy, cognition, sensory needs or mental health. This NDIS household tasks list helps participants, families and carers understand the practical supports that may be funded, and how they can be tailored around personal goals rather than a one-size-fits-all cleaning routine.
Household support is not simply about keeping a home tidy. Done well, it can help a person maintain a safe living environment, preserve energy for work, study or community activities, and build the confidence to take part in daily life in the way that suits them.
What are NDIS household tasks?
Household tasks are generally funded under the NDIS support category Assistance with Daily Life. They may be included where a participant needs help to manage essential domestic activities because of the impact of their disability.
The support should relate to the participant’s individual circumstances, goals and living arrangements. For one person, that may mean regular help to manage cleaning safely after an injury or with reduced mobility. For another, it may involve prompting and hands-on support to establish a weekly routine, prepare simple meals or learn to use household equipment.
Funding is not automatic because a task is inconvenient or time-consuming. The NDIS considers whether a support is reasonable and necessary, connected to disability-related needs, value for money, and likely to assist the participant to pursue their goals and participate in everyday life.
NDIS household tasks list: common supports
The right support plan begins with the tasks that are genuinely difficult, the risks involved, and what the participant wants to do independently. A support worker may complete tasks for a participant, work alongside them, or provide prompts and practical coaching. The approach depends on the person’s capacity, preferences and goals.
Cleaning and maintaining a safe home
Domestic assistance can include help with regular cleaning that a participant cannot safely complete themselves. This may involve vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, changing bed linen, doing laundry, or taking out rubbish.
Support may be particularly useful where fatigue, pain, limited hand function, reduced balance or sensory overload makes these tasks unsafe or unmanageable. It can also reduce avoidable hazards, such as cluttered walkways, wet floors or unwashed bedding.
The NDIS usually funds disability-related support rather than a general household cleaning service. The amount and frequency should be appropriate to the participant’s needs, household situation and funded plan.
Laundry and clothing care
Laundry can involve more than placing clothes in a washing machine. Sorting items, carrying baskets, reaching clotheslines, using pegs, folding garments and putting clothes away may all present barriers.
A worker can assist with the parts of the task that are difficult, while encouraging the participant to remain involved where they choose. For example, a participant may select clothing and operate the machine with prompts, while receiving physical support to carry wet washing or make beds. This keeps the focus on choice and skill development, not taking over unnecessarily.
Meal-related household support
Some plans may include assistance with everyday meal-related tasks, such as planning simple meals, preparing ingredients, cooking, cleaning up afterwards and safely storing food. Where appropriate, this can be a valuable way to build confidence in nutrition, budgeting and household routines.
The distinction matters here. Support with preparing a meal may be funded when it is disability-related, while the ordinary cost of groceries is generally the participant’s responsibility. Prepared meal delivery may be considered in particular circumstances, but it is not a substitute for every meal or a standard inclusion in all plans.
Shopping and household organisation
Help may include developing a shopping list, organising pantry items, checking what is needed at home, or attending the shops with support. Participants may also need assistance to organise household routines, manage appointments for essential domestic services, or use visual schedules and reminders.
If support involves travel, shopping or managing money, it is worth discussing the details with a plan manager, support coordinator or provider. Different activities may be claimed under different support categories, and the best arrangement will depend on the participant’s plan and goals.
Basic household safety tasks
A support worker may help a participant manage everyday safety within the home, such as changing bed linen, clearing walkways, responding to spills, checking food is stored safely, or supporting routines that reduce risks.
However, household task funding does not generally cover major home repairs, renovations, landscaping, pest control or the ordinary costs of owning or renting a home. If a modification or assistive product is needed to improve access or safety, it may be considered under a different NDIS support type and may require assessments or approval.
What household task funding does not usually cover
Understanding the boundaries of funding can prevent disappointment and make planning discussions more productive. The NDIS is designed to fund disability-related supports, not costs that are part of everyday living for everyone.
Examples that are not usually funded include rent or mortgage payments, electricity and water bills, groceries, standard cleaning products, routine repairs, general gardening, and services that are primarily for other household members. A family home may still receive funded assistance where the activity directly relates to the participant’s disability needs, but the provider should claim only the support delivered for the participant.
There are exceptions and grey areas. A participant who lives alone, has complex support needs or is preparing to move into supported accommodation may need a different level of assistance from someone who lives with family members who can reasonably provide some informal help. Individual circumstances matter.
How to choose the right level of support
Before seeking household task support, take note of what happens across a typical week. Consider the tasks that are missed, rushed, unsafe or exhausting. Think about the impact: does an unclean bathroom create a health risk? Does laundry build up because carrying baskets causes pain? Does meal preparation become impossible after an appointment or a day at work?
It also helps to identify what success looks like. Goals might include maintaining a clean and safe home, learning to prepare two meals independently each week, reducing reliance on family, or having more energy to attend community activities. Clear examples give planners and providers a better picture of the support required.
The right service should be flexible. Some participants benefit from a short weekly visit focused on cleaning and laundry. Others need more regular assistance, paired with daily living skill development. Support should also respect cultural preferences, household routines, privacy and the participant’s preferred way of communicating.
Making household support work for you
Once funding is in place, agree on a clear schedule and scope of support. Discuss which tasks the worker will do, which tasks you would like to do yourself, what equipment is available, and how changes should be communicated. Consistency is especially helpful when routines support wellbeing or when a participant has complex needs.
Keep records of services, including invoices and service agreements, and review the arrangement if circumstances change. A new diagnosis, a change in mobility, a move to a different home, or reduced informal support can all affect what is needed. Raise these changes early with the people supporting your plan.
At Mount Gollis Care & Services, our trusted registered disability support team works with participants and their families to shape daily living support around real routines, personal goals and dignity at home. Whether support is occasional or part of a broader pathway towards greater independence, the most meaningful plan is one that leaves room for the life you want to lead.
A well-supported household routine should make home feel more manageable, not more clinical. Start with the task that creates the greatest barrier, talk openly about the help you need, and let each small success build towards greater choice in everyday life.
